Turkey Escalates Feud With U.S. By Increasing Tariffs on American Imports

The move comes after US President Donald Trumpannounced last week that the United States was doubling steel and aluminium tariffs on Turkey, as the two North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies quarrel over Brunson's detention.

As Erdogan sought to cushion the impact of the crisis on Turkey's economy, he reached out to German Chancellor Angela Merkel for possible assistance and won a promise from Qatar's emir to invest $15 billion.

The White House called the Turkish response a step in the wrong direction and signaled a hard line on Brunson's release. But she added: "Turkey's economic problems - those are a part of a long-term trend, something of its own making and not the result of any actions the United States has taken". White House press secretary Sarah Sanders that Washington will withdraw sanctions on Turkey if Brunson was set free.

Following the announcement, the lira firmed briefly to 5.8699 from 6.04 to the USA dollar, but later eased back to 6.0200 at 1538 GMT.

Washington's move came during an ongoing dispute over Turkey's holding of an American pastor for two years. The sanctions have sent the Turkish lira into a tailspin.

In retaliation, Erdogan sharply increased tariffs on certain American commodities - some of them more than double - and called on Turkish people to boycott US-made electronic goods, including Apple'siPhones.

Optimism about better relations with the European Union after a Turkish court released two Greek soldiers pending trial and a banking watchdog's step to limit foreign exchange swap transactions have also helped the lira.

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"Trade wars help no one, but Turkey will do what is necessary to protect our industries and economy from assault", Pekcan said.

In one of the videos circulating online in Turkey, which have been picked up by the country's online news organizations, an unidentified man with four boys kneeling behind him in front of a Turkish flag, addresses the US leader directly, asking Mr. Trump, "who do you think you are?"

The court in the western city of Izmir rejected the appeal and ruled that Brunson will remain under house arrest, the state television TRT reported.

Sanders said even if Brunson is released, USA tariffs on steel would remain.

"The tariffs that the United States placed on Turkey were out of national security interests".

Speaking of Brunson's case, Sanders said, "We feel that Turkey and specifically President Erdogan have treated Pastor Brunson. very unfairly, very badly". In return, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree to raise tariffs on American imports including cars, alcohol and tobacco.

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